WALES could be the next European region to declare freedom after independence campaigners took to the streets today in support of last week’s Catalonia referendum.

Around 40 people attended the public event in Llangefni town centre, which was backed by Welsh independence movement ‘Yes Cymru’ today.

The demonstration was organised to show solidarity with the people of Catalonia, following violent clashes in the Spanish region over the last week.

According to the rally’s organisers, the protest was held in response to the “heavy-handed response” of the Spanish state and “the cruel violence” of the Guardia police.

Describing the Spanish response as “an international disgrace”, protestor Robat Idris said the rally was held in support of all regions fighting for autonomy and striving for a better political future.

Catalan referendum: Brutality of Catalonia's referendum vote

Scenes at the Catalan independence referendum

Arfon Wyn, of Anglesey band, Y Moniars, also sang songs in support of the Catalans’ struggle, just days after hundreds were injured last Sunday when Spanish national police tried to stop voting in the poll which was deemed constitutionally illegal by the country’s top court.

Catalan officials said 90 per cent of the 2.26 million people who took part in the vote backed independence.

And President Carles Puigdemont said his region will declare their independence in the coming week.

Today tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid and Barcelona this morning, many dressed in white and calling for talks to defuse Spain's worst political crisis for decades.

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Today tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid and Barcelona

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Catalan officials said 90 per cent of the 2.26 million people who voted back the split

The wealthy northeastern region of Catalonia, with its own language and culture, has long claimed to be distinct from the rest of the country and on Sunday held a referendum on leaving Spain, a vote the constitutional court had banned.

The Catalan authorities say that a majority of those who voted supported a split from Spain. Madrid says secession is illegal under the country's 1978 constitution.

The political stand-off has divided the country, pushed banks and companies to move their headquarters outside Catalonia and shaken market confidence in the Spanish economy, prompting calls from the European Commission for Catalan and Spanish leaders to find a political solution.

In Barcelona, protesters chanted "let's talk" in Catalan, while many carried signs criticising political leaders for not finding a diplomatic solution to the impasse.